Village likely won't get back money for roof

St. Henry company who supplied roof went bankrupt

By Shelley Grieshop

ST. HENRY - Officials doubt the village will be reimbursed for a lifetime guaranteed metal roof that has deteriorated on a park shelter house.

Blosser Stephens, formerly of St. Henry, supplied the "hurricane-proof" shingles for the park project several years ago. The company filed for bankruptcy less than a year after it opened its doors along state Route 118 in 2009.

"I'll try to pursue this but I'm not hopeful," village administrator Ron Gelhaus said.

Moisture accumulated and was trapped in an area of the roof beneath the shingles, he said. The roof is being replaced this week.

Village crews also have replaced metal roofs they previously purchased from Blosser Stephens for four dugouts and two crows nests in North Park, Gelhaus said.

The total amount of reimbursement Gelhaus plans to seek was not available at press time.

In other business, a proposed emergency ordinance to accept the amounts and rates of a current 2.0-mill tax levy as determined by the county's budget commission was tabled due to the absence of two council members.

The council also tabled another ordinance to accept $34,842 in local government funds for 2014.

Both ordinances were slated for passage by Oct. 1. Village fiscal officer Ruth Miller told council members she will try to get a time extension from the county auditor or set emergency meetings prior to the deadline.

The local government fund amount for 2014 is $16 more than received by the village in 2013. However, the dollar amount dropped substantially from 10 years ago when the state delivered $80,882. Funding in 2012 was $45,560.

Also on Monday, council members,

• heard first reading on a resolution declaring it necessary for the construction of sidewalks and driveway approaches along Westview Avenue, Main Street and South Sycamore Street.

The project deadline is July 31, 2014 - one month earlier than previous sidewalk projects. The new date was changed to give the town ample time to complete the projects if property owners decide not to hire someone for the job.

If the town completes the sidewalk and drive approach work, property owners will be assessed the cost.

• heard second reading on a plan to divide a privately-owned lot on Chestnut Street into three separate properties. The land, owned by Homer and Judy Stachler of St. Henry, is part of Chestnut Villas Phase 3 along a cul-de-sac near Eastern Avenue (state Route 118).

The Stachlers intend to sell the vacant lots individually.

The Ohio Revised Code requires council approval if a plat within the corporation limit is divided into more than two lots.

• learned one of 11 aerators recently was replaced at the wastewater treatment plant.

• learned town crews are preparing to tear out landscape in the town square near the library. The village's 175th anniversary committee donated $1,000 for the upgrade.

• learned 15 dead trees in North Park and South Park are targeted for replacement.

• learned leaf pick-up starts Oct. 14 or sooner if the village deems it necessary.

ROCKFORD - More than 150 residents, teachers and school officials from area districts met Monday at the Parkway school auditorium to learn more about Common Core and its effect on local schools. [More]